Communication Choices to Engage Participation of Rural Indonesian Craftspeople in Development Projects

Abstract

Abstract. In participatory design projects, maintaining effective communication between facilitator and participant is essential. This paper describes the consideration given to the choice of communication modes to engage participation of rural Indonesian craftspeople over the course of a significant 3 year project that aims to grow their self-determination, design and business skill. We demonstrate the variety and subtlety of oral and written forms of communication used by the facilitator during the project. The culture, the communication skill and the influence of tacit knowledge affect the effectiveness of some modes of communication over the others, as well as the available infrastructure. Considerations are specific to the case of rural Indonesian craftspeople, but general lessons can be drawn. IntroductionIn theory the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) should assist rural business to access and compete in global markets. However, scholars widely acknowledge that ICT application in rural business is problematic [6,9]. There is a lag in uptake of ICTs in rural areas and review of a wide array of disparate initiatives found that interventions are best undertaken through multi-channel approaches and internediaries [3,5]. However, imposing the use of ICT may not always meet the needs of rural people nor might ICTs suit the local context. Instead of beginning with the assumption that ICT in some form is needed to enhance the livelihoods of rural people, this project begins by examining how rural craftspeople communicate and how they engage to participate in projects to develop their livelihoods Such understandings would in any case need to underpin efforts to adopt ICTs. This paper describes a case study of a participatory approach to engage participation of rural craftspeople in a development project, focusing upon the communication modes used by the intermediary.